Witch's finger cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 2 3/4 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 3/4 cup whole blanched almonds
  Red food coloring, preferably paste type
  

1. Preheat oven to 325° F. Combine dry ingredients. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
   
   
2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla, beat in dry ingredients. Cover and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
   
   
3. If you want to paint the nails first, use some red food coloring that's been diluted with water and brush on with a clean artist's brush. Working with one-quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoons full of dough into finger shape for each cookie. Press an almond firmly into one end for nail. Squeeze in center to create a knuckle shape and use a paring knife make slashes in several places to form knuckle.
   
   
4. Place cookies on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool for three minutes. If desired, lift up almond and squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back in place so gel oozes out from underneath. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough.

Note: Make cookies smaller than you think they need to be, as they spread when cooking. Our witch has fat fingers because we didn't heed our own advice. If you want to make toes instead of fingers, shape your cookies a little shorter and fatter and leave off the red coloring on the almond "nail."

Show Info: Open Ended Engagement
Orpheum Theatre
1192 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Tickets: Ticketmaster (415) 512-7770 shnsf.com

About Wicked: Winner of 26 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Wicked Week: The Witches and denizens of Oz will descend on the City to launch San Francisco's Halloween festivities with some delectably Wicked events around town. Here's what's brewing:

October 30-31, Magical Makeovers at Macys MAC makeup counter. Choose from three Wicked-themed facial designs. Meet Wicked cast members and Makeup Designer Joe Dulude. The first 25 guests to sign up for a Wicked MAC makeover each day will receive a Wicked gift and can enter to win the Wicked Week grand prize-The Ultimate Trip to Oz including four tickets to the show, VIP louge passes and goodies from the Ozdust Boutique. In the Union Square San Francisco store.

October 31, 11 am-5 pm, Wicked Celebrates Halloween at Zeum.

Dress your family as Emerald City Citizens for a special costume contest at the Zeum Carousel judged by Wicked cast members including Patty Duke. All costumed guests will receive green glasses, Wicked gifts and a free ride on the carousel. Activities inside the museum include wand making workshops, costume sketching exercises and Wicked Karaoke. For more info, www.zeum.org.

October 31-November 30, "Defying Gravity From Page to Stage," at Zeum. Ongoing exhibit featuring Wicked costume and set design sketches and final production shots in the main hall of the museum. Guests will be encouraged to use various materials to sketch and create their own designs that will actually go on display. Wand making workshops and Wicked Karaoke will be available throughout the month.

Behind The Emerald Curtain Event:
The San Francisco company of Wicked offers a rare insider's glimpse into the world of the blockbuster Broadway musical. "Behind the Emerald Curtain," is a new, exclusive look at the creative journey of Wicked, hosted by cast members from the show. A question-and-answer session with current cast members - hear personal anecdotes about appearing in WICKED as well as what lies ahead for the musical phenomenon in San Francisco as well as around the world.

Little-known facts about what it takes to make the world of Oz come to life eight times a week. The exclusive Behind the Emerald Curtain Museum, including: An up-close look at some of Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty's costumes -- with beautiful details not always visible from the audience. The chance to see some of the show's props and wigs. Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee's set model. Special film footage about the making of the global hit production. Production photos of the San Francisco company as well as the Broadway, Chicago, London, and touring companies. The 90-minute experience will be offered every Saturday morning at 10 a.m at The Orpheum Theatre where the show continues its open-ended engagement. Private tours are available by appointment for Groups. For all the info and tickets, shnsf.com

About Kendra Kassebaum:
Kendra, who plays Glinda, comes directly from playing the role in the Broadway production. Kendra received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in the North American Tour of WICKED. Most recently, Kendra wrapped the film Love and Other Impossible Pursuits directed by Don Roos opposite Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow and starred off-Broadway in The Receptionist at Manhattan Theatre Club.

She created the role of Sam in the workshop production of Leap of Faith directed by Taylor Hackford. On Broadway, she was seen in the Tony Award-winning production of Assassins directed by Joe Mantello and Rent. Tours include A Chorus Line and Grease. Regional credits include Actors Theatre of Louisville, 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT, Ordway, Florida Stage and the St. Louis MUNY. Recordings include the Grammy-nominated cast album of Assassins.

About SHN:
SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres-San Francisco's premier theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theater series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway. For information on all SHN shows, please visit, . To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.